Portable container transport unit



Feb. 20, 1968 I I H, HASSELMANN v 3,369,658

PORTABLE CONTAINER TRANSPORT UNIT Filed May 20, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Inventor AE/A/Z ,7, #45552 AMA/1v United States Patent 3,369,658PORTABLE CONTAINER TRANSPORT UNIT Heinz Hasselmann, 101 Bergstrasse,

58 Hagen, Germany Filed May 20, 1966, Ser. No. 551,763 Claims priority,application Germany, May 22, 1965, H 56,115 11 Claims. (Cl. 206-65)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A construction of container which permitsinterengagement of a group of such containers in order to form atransportable unit includes a container which may be of rectangular orcylindrical configuration, for example, and which includes sides withprojections and recesses formed in the walls of the container. Theprojections and recesses are oriented so that the containers may bearranged in horizontal groups with their sides abutting and with aprojection of each abutting container of a container pair extending intoa recess of the other container of the pair. In the preferredconstruction, the projections and recesses are formed both adjacent thetops and the bottoms of the containers so as to provide for a firminterengagement of the containers in order to prevent relativedisplacement both in horizontal and vertical directions when thecontainers are arranged in a group. After the containers areinterengaged in a group, they are held in interengagement by anencircling band which is advantageously applied around the containersbetween the upper and lower projections at a location at which theprojections will prevent the band from falling off upwardly ordownwardly.

The containers are also advantageously constructed so that a projectionforming a spout on the top of a lower container may be interengaged witha recess defined on the bottom of an upper container so that thehorizontal groups may be stacked vertically and interlocked vertically.When horizontal groups are stacked vertically over another horizontalgroup or groups, the entire stacked arrangement is held in position byan additional encircling band extending across the tops and bottoms ofthe vertically stacked groups. The bands advantageously are made suchthat they include handles which project upwardly from each stack or thecontainer tops are formed such that handles may be fitted tointerenga-ge between at least two projecting spout portions of thecontainers in a group.

Summary of the invention This invention relates in general to containerconstructions and to an improved stacked container transport unit, andin particular to a new and useful container having means forinterengaging the container with a similarly constructed containerarranged at the same level and with further means for holding aplurality of such containers in a horizontal grouping which, in turn,may be arranged in a vertical stack.

At the present time, containers for liquid, for example, beer bottles orfruit juice containers, are usually transported and shipped withinlarger container boxes containing from about 12 to 30 such bottles orcontainers. Wine bottles are customarily shipped in larger boxes orcrates or in paper cartons. This type of packing requires greatexpenditure and moreover results in breakage and wear. The weight ofsuch boxes, which are provided for shipping the individual containers orbottles, is relatively great and renders the portability more difiicult.The return or back shipment of such empty containers or bottles with theboxes is also a nuisance and expensive. If the boxes or outsidecontainers are to be destroyed or discarded after a one-time use inorder to avoid re-shipping, then, of course, the packing cost inrelation to the total cost becomes even higher so that the cost for theindividual bottles becomes great.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a containerconstruction which permits the grouping together of the individualcontainers or bottles into separate portable units which may be shippedin such state. In accordance with the invention, the containers areformed with interengaging or interfitting raised and recessedportionsformed on adjacent container side walls which interlock and holdthe containers in an interengaged group with the containers beingarranged preferably at the same level. The inventive arrangement alsofurther includes an encircling band or strip which is placed laterallyaround the outer surfaces of the outermost containers of the groupedcontainers and which hold the containers in the horizontal grouping. Theband is advantageously an elastically formed tensioning band and mayadvantageously include securing means such as adhesive located atstrategic locations for securing the band directly to the groupedcontainers. The containers are advantageously formed so that the bandengages the outer Wall of the containers between projections formed onthe containers so that they may not slip off after applying. In thepreferred form, the encircling bands include handle formations locatedat areas to permit easy transportation or lifting of the containergroup. In the preferred form, the containers or bottles areadvantageously made of a synthetic material so that they arethin-Walled, light in weight, and inexpensive to manufacture.

In the preferred arrangement, the containers may be shipped without anyexternal carrying box or container and they may advantageously bearranged in stacks formed by a plurality of horizontal groups ofcontainers which are arranged one over the other in a vertical stack.The containers are secured in such vertical stacked position by theaddition of a further encircling band which is advantageously appliedcentrally around the complete vertical stack.

By making the individual containers or bottles of a synthetic materialsuch as polyvinylchloride, an extremely light overall weight of suchunits can be obtained.

As compared to corrugated board and paper containers, the plasticconstruction has the advantage that the unit will not be dependent uponthe tear resistance of paper and, in addition, the encircling bandsprovide additional reinforcement and protection. The stacking andgrouping arrangement is preferably such that the containers may beinterengaged to form a block-like shipping unit. For this purpose, theindividual containers are advantageously formed with a filling andpouring spout on the top thereof which interengages in a recessformation formed on the bottom of the next vertically adjacentcontainer. In some instances, it may be preferable to provide a recessformation at the top of each container in which is formed the filling orpouring spout and to provide means for interengaging the end edges ormarginal areas of vertically adjacent containers.

In order to facilitate the interengagement of the individual bottles orcontainers in a lateral direction, the containers are formed either withtwo opposing bottle sides or two adjacent bottle sides in an identicalmanner. By forming two adjacent bottle sides in a similar manner or anidentical manner,-the bottles can be arranged in rows in a mostconvenient manner and thus can be combined to a unit consisting ofbottles arranged in a grouping at the same height level. Theinterengaging raised portions which fit into similarly constructeddepressions on the next adjacent container advantageously are of suchdimension that they reinforce the bottle Wall inthe manner of ribs. Theprojections also advantageously form means for facilitating thealignment and retention of the encircling band which holds thecontainers in a group.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedcontainer construction of generally blockshaped configuration havingsides formed with interengageable complementary projections and recessesto facilitate the alignment and interengagement of a similar containerin a horizontal grouping by the interengagement of such projections andrecesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vertical containershipping block construction formed of a plurality of horizontal groupsof intcrengaged containers each including an encircling band holding thecontainers in a horizontal group and wherein horizontal groups arestacked one above the other by the vertical interengagement of thecontainers and further including an encircling band holding a pluralityof horizontal groups in a vertically stacked block formation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container constructionand container grouping which is simple in design, rugged in constructionand economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated and described preferredembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a horizontal grouping of containersconstructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the containers of FIG 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal grouping of containers having an encircling bandand additional handle means;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of a container having anotherembodiment of a handle;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a vertical stacking of twocontainers;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of another embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical stacking of a horizontal group of containers inaccordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied thereinas indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a horizontal grouping of aplurality of containers or bottles 1 of hollow generally block-shapedconfiguration which have opposed pairs of lateral walls of uniformdimension which are provided selectively with either recesses 3 orprojections 2. In the preferred arrangement, the projections 2 areformed on adjacent side and end walls and are arranged to extend acrossthe top and the bottom of the container wall leaving an intermediatespace 1a therebetween. The recesses 3 are formed of a size to receivethe projections 2 and are arranged on the other two adjacent walls ofthe containers 1. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the containers may bearranged in horizontal groupings with projections 2 engaged in therecesses 3. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the projections 2 willlie on the exterior of the groupings along one edge and one side thereofand the recesses will lie along the opposite edge and opposite side. Itshould be appreciated, however, that only one projection need be formedon a single wall adjacent, for example, the top and a recess formedadjacent the bottom to facilitate interengagement of a container havinga recess formed adjacent its top and a projection formed adjacent thebottom of the wall with which it will'be interengaged.

Instead of arranging the containers in a single horizontal grouping or adouble horizontal grouping as indicated in FIG. 2, the containers may bearranged in the horizontal grouping indicated, for example, in FIG. 3.After they are so arranged, as encircling band 5, which may be, forexample, an elastic adhesive band, is positioned around the exteriors ofall the horizontally grouped containers and advantageously engagesbetween projections 2 in the area 1a. The band which is placed aroundthe groups of containers is advantageously secured to the containers byadhesive which is united with the surface of the container at selectedlocations. In many instances it will be sufficient if the band is onlyadhesively cemented at two overlapping end portions of the band. Theband 5 undergrips the edges of the containers or bottles 1 at thelocation 7 as indicated in FIG. 3 so that they cannot slide 05 even ifit is not adhesi-vely connected to the containers.

In the preferred form, the band 5 is provided with formations whichprovide handles or gripping elements 6 so that the whole grouping orunit may be lifted with two hands at opposite sides of the group, forexample. In some other instances, additional securing handle formationelements 8 are secured over projections of intermediate containers atthe location indicated in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4, there is indicated another embodiment of a handleconstruction which may comprise a handle which engages around a neckportion or projection 10 of the spout of a container 1'.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the container 1 includes a topwall 112 with upwardly sloping sides terminating in a central spoutformation 4. In the embodi ment of FIG. 5, the containers 1" include abottom wall 13 having a recess 12 defined therein for accommodating thespout 4". The top walls 1b provide a bearing contact for a portion ofsloping bottom walls 13 of the container 1". The weight of the container1" is transmitted onto a marginal zone of the sloping top walls 11)which provides a rigid and strong support for the upper containers.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, there is provided a container 1' whichincludes a top wall 112" having a recessed marginal edge which receivesa downwardly projecting marginal edge of the bottom Wall 13 of theuppermost container. In this embodiment, the top wall 1b is providedwith a central recessed area 15 having a central spout 14 definedtherein which does not project above a central elevated portion of thetop wall.

In FIG. 7, there is indicated a shipping bundle or transport unitgenerally designated 20 which is composed of three vertically stackedassembled horizontal units generally designated A, B and C. Asindicated, each of the horizontal units of containers A, B and Cincludes 16 containers generally designated 1 which are arranged withtheir projecting portions 2 interengaged within recesses 3 in the mannerindicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The containers 1 of each unit A, B and C areheld together by encircling band 5 as indicated in FIG. 3. The wholeunit is assembled into block form by stacking the groups of containers Band C on top of the container group A and applying an additionalencircling band 16. The bands 16 may also be of an elastic material andinclude adhesive on the inner side thereof which becomes adhered to selected portions of the containers at selected locations. The completeunit 20 may be lifted or shipped or moved in any manner withoutdisturbing the interengagement of the container 1.

In some instances, it is desirable to provide covers or protective caps17 for the containers as indicated in FIG. 1. The cap is designed to fitdirectly over the spout portion 4 and the upper wall 112 of thecontainer and it provides a protection against dust or contamination inaddition to its protective feature.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the inventiveprinciples, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed:

1. A portable container transport unit comprising a plurality ofhorizontally arranged groups of interengaged abutting containers, saidhorizontally arranged groups being arranged in a vertical stack ofabutting vertically interengaged horizontal groups, each horizontalgroup including a plurality of containers of tubular shape having twoopposite pairs of integral side walls of substantially uniformdimensions with each pair of side walls having at least one projectiondefined in one of its walls and at least one recess formed in the otherof its walls, said projection having interconnected rectilinear sideseach extending outwardly for substantially the same dimension from itssaid side wall, said sides of said projection located inwardly from theedges of its said side wall, a face surface on said projectionconnecting the outer edges of said sides and combining therewith toprovide said projection with a closed surface, said recess havinginterconnected rectilinear sides extending inwardly into said containersubstantially the same dimension from its said side wall as the sides ofsaid projection extend from its said side wall, said sides of saidrecess located inwardly from the edges of its said side wall, a facesurface in said recess connecting the inner edges of said sides andcombining therewith to provide said recess with a closed surface, saidprojections on said containers arranged in closely fitting socket-likeinterengagement with the recesses on said adjacent containers withinsaid horizontally arranged groups whereby said containers are securedwithin said groups against vertical and horizontal displacement, saidcontainers in each of said horizontally arranged groups including a topwall and a bottom wall, said top wall having an upwardly projectingportion and a spout located in said portion, said bottom wall having aninwardly directed recess adapted to receive in closely fittinginterengagement said upwardly projecting portion and spout of anothersaid container disposed below and in alignment with said container, saidhorizontally arranged groups adapted to be arranged in a vertical stackwith other horizontal groups with said containers in one saidhorizontally arranged group situated with said recesses in the bottomwalls thereof superposed on and in interengagement with said upwardlyprojecting portions and spout of said containers in said lowerhorizontally arranged group, and said upwardly projecting portion andsaid spout in said top walls thereof interengaged with said recesses inthe bottom walls of said upper horizontally arranged group, horizontallyextending encircling bands surrounding and in tightly fitting engagementwith the exterior surfaces of the exterior containers of each saidhorizontally arranged group, and vertically extending encircling bandssurrounding and in tightly fitting engagement with the exterior surfacesof said vertically stacked horizontally arranged groups whereby saidcontainers are combined into a single portable transport unit.

2. A portable container transport unit according to claim 1, whereinsaid containers include at least two adjacent side walls each having twoprojections thereon and at least two adjacent side walls each having tworecesses thereon.

3. A portable container transport unit according to claim 2, whereinsaid projections on the exterior ones of said containers within one ofsaid horizontally arranged groups prevent removal of said band.

4. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 3, whereinsaid band is adhesively secured to said containers.

5. A portable container transport unit according to claim 1, whereinsaid horizontal groups of containers are held together by an elasticencircling band having adhesive on the inner surface thereof adhesivelysecuring said band to at least some of said containers.

6. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 1, whereinsaid horizontally encircling bands are provided with handles forcarrying the groups of containers.

7. A portable container unit, according to claim 6, wherein saidhorizontally encircling bands are provided with a handle formation oneach side of the interengaged horizontally arranged groups of saidcontainers.

8. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 7, includingat least one additional handle formation engaged between adjacentcontainers in said horizontally arranged group and extending upwardlytherefrom for facilitating lifting of said group.

9. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 7, includinga spout engaging handle member engaged around a projection on the spoutof at least two of said containers and extending upwardly therefrom andhaving a hand gripping opening for facilitating lifting of saidcontainers.

10. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 9, whereinsaid projections on said spouts are formed as ribs with roughenedportions.

11. A portable container transport unit, according to claim 1, includinga cap fitted over the top of said containers and covering said spoutportion and the top wall of said container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,611 5/1908 Heinze et al22023.4 X 3,112,826 12/1963 Blum 206 3,164,252 1/1965 Hosbein 206653,200,943 8/1965 Waterbury 22023.6 X 3,214,056 10/1965 Box 22023.6 X3,268,070 8/1966 Cunningham 20665 FOREIGN PATENTS 985,402 3/ 1965 GreatBritain.

193,808 1/1965 Sweden.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner.

